Lubricating device



.LUBRIGATING DEVICE Filed Oct. 17, 1925 llll llll

m M ,INVENTOR y Wu PM,

ATTORNEY antenna M. en-r:nivn,

Patented July 29, 1930' STAT i981w PATENT FI in; or rnrncnron, NEW annsni 'AssIGnon r NATHAN- MANU- raoTURINo COMPANY, or nEw-Yonx, N. Y. a

LUBRICATING DEVICE "Application filed flctober 17, 1925. Serial No; 63,038.

This invention relates generally to a .de

larly applied tothe pistons, valves and other working surfaces.

A generalobject ofthe invention is to provide meansfor introducingoil in a finely divided form or spray intothe actuating fiuid of a fluid-pressiu'eoperated engine, pump,

; compressor,- or the like, so that the fine 'oil particles will bevthoroughly distributed by thesteam or otherfluid on tlie various working. surfaces needing lubrication.

The invention consists in the production ofan atomizing effect ona-mass of liquid lubricant which is brought about by causing steam or oth er fluidto travelat high velocity across an orifice forming a terminal for a passageway i orduct containing the lubricant under pressure; A feature ofthe invention resides in the provision of a Ventu'ritube through Which the steam which is tocarry the lubricant-is causedto flowto thereby producein themoving column of steam arelatively high velocity such as will produce a limited lowering of pressure in the region surrounding the moving steam and the desired mixing efi'ect at ports formed in the throatof the tube at the most constricted sectionthereof. The ports communicate with a condnitorpassageway leading from the 'oil supply pump or other feeding device so that thesteamtraveling at high velocity through the constricted throat of the Venturi tube causesa flow of oil throughthe ports into the tube and atomizes or .disintegrates it to produce a spray or finely divided condition thereof. The oil spray thus formed is carried with thestream of steam Figure 1 is a. view in side elevation of a portion of a steam engine and showing a lubricating apparatus embodying the invention and applied thereto. i

" gure- 2=is a View in vertical section and on an enlarged scale taken on the line 2 2 of.

Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings for a more detailed description of the invention, in Figure 1 there is shown the cylinder 10 of a steam enginewith a steam chest 11 mounted thereon, a steam supply pipe 12 being-provided through which steam passes from a boiler, not shown, into the steam chest 11 and from thenceinto the steam cylinder 10;to operate the reciprocating piston therein in a known manner. a

The invention herein includes the provision of means for utilizing steam flowing from a -manifold 13,7to carry a'chargeofoil in a sprayer finelyidivided form through feeding'tubesld, 15 andl6 into the steamspace Within thesteam supplypipe 12, the steam chest 11, and the steam cylinder .10, respectively. l r i Inorder'to convert the oil in the desired finely divided form for the necessary thorough distribution to all the working parts Withwhich the oil-charged steam comes into contact,a Venturi tubestructure is made use of through'which steam isfcaused to flow from the manifold 13 toproduce in saidtube a velocity relatively higher than that at the entrance of the tube to create ,aueduced pressure condition in the region immediately surrounding the-constricted portion of the movinto effect a Venturitube 17 is mounted within acasing 18 mounted between a discharge orifice member 19 carried-by the-manifold 18 and one or other of the feedtubes 14, 15, 01316 already referred to. a

In order to utilize the reduced area eifect produced by the pressure conditionimmediately surrounding; the. constricted portion of the Venturi tube, a, series of ports 20 are arnangedto communicate with a chamber'121 surrounding the tube 17 and into which a passage 22 leads. The passage 22 terminates at a non-return or check valve structure 23 of any form placed at the upper terminal portion of a passageway 24 formed in a member 25 towhicha terminal of a discharge oil pipe 26 is attached. The form shown is one of several terminal check valves Which might be applied. The pipe 26 leads to a source of oil supply. IVhen oil is forcedby a pump or other device into the ports 20 leading into the throat or constricted portion of the Venturi tube 17, as the steam traveling at high velocity passes the inner orifices of the ports 20, finely divided particles of oil are caught up and carried along in the form of spray in the traveling steam for uniform distribution throughout the mass thereof and correspondingly uniform engagement with the working surfaces with which the steam comes into contact. 7

It will be seen that the check valve structure shown at 23 in Figure 2 of the drawings provides a means for preventing the return of oil fed into the apparatus or the back flow of steam when the oil pump is not operating, the conical valve member 27 being forced toward its seat 28 by a spring for this purpose. Acover cap member 29 is provided for normally covering the valve parts and protecting them from dust and the like.

A valve member 30 is provided which is in the form of a plug member andcan be removed bodily from its seat or Withdrawn a slight amount to permit oil from the channel 24 to pass through the port 31 and'through a drip opening 32 to thereby indicate that oil is being forced through the lubricating system by a pump or other feeding device. In like manner a plug 33 is provided which can be removed bodily to drain the adjacent chambers or the oil remaining in the system, in the event that the engine ceases to operate, can drain by gravity into the feeding I tubes 14, 15 and 16 as will be seen.

' The Venturi tube 17 has screw-threaded relation at 34 with the frame member 18 and can be readily removed therefrom or placed therein as desired.

' In order to prevent the flowing of steam from the cylinder or associated parts in a reverse direction into the manifold 13, a

valve seat is provided at 35 in the member 19 against which ball valve member 36 is forced'in the upward movement of steam through the Venturi tube section to thereby check the flow of steam into the manifold. In the reverse or normal direction of fiow of the steam from the manifold into the cylinder the ball valve 36 descends and rests upon a set of prongs or lugs 37 formed on the'upper extremity of the'Venturi tube member 17. It will be seen that the steam passes freely between the prong members and around the ball valve 36 into the Venturi tube. The

area for the steam flow around the ball is at all places equal to the area through partition 19 and is much greater than that of the throat ans of the constricted section of the Venturi tu e. I

While for convenience in explaining the invention I have referred to the application of. the improved lubricating system to the steam cylinder and associated parts of a locomotive engine, it will be clear that the lubricating apparatus shown and described is applicable to any apparatus wherein a pressure fluid is used and comes into contact with relatively movable parts. It will also be understood that the atomizing apparatus may be used as a single unit where required. The atomizing device may also be applied immediately at the point at which oil is to be introduced into the fluid chamber, instead of being attached to a manifold spaced apart therefrom as in the manner herein described. In such a'case a steam pipe would be individually used for each atomizer. It will be understood that oil may be introduced into the atomizer structure primarily by means of a mechanical pump or hydrostatic lubricator, at which point it is converted into the atomized or finely divided form by the moving column of steam with which it engages.

Preferably the discharge end of the inlet steam pipe 38 leading from the boiler into the manifold 13 is provided with a screen member 39 whi ch will prevent the passing of material into the atomizers which would tend to clog the same and prevent the operation thereof.

It will be understood that numerous variations and modifications may be made in the construction shown and described Without departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

hat I claim is: v

1. In a'device for introducing lubricating oil into a steam chamber, a source of steam under pressure, a steam chamber mounted beneath the level of the source of steam under pressure, a conduit leading downwardly from the source of steam pressure to the steam chamber, a unitary, Venturi tube mounted in said conduit, the conduit forming an annular chamber enclosing the restricted throat section of the Venturi tube, ports leading from the annular chamber through the walls of the restricted portion of the Venturi tube, upstanding lugs formed on the upper extremity of the Venturi tube, a ball member normally mounted on the upper ends of the lugs, a

seat formed in the conduit above the ball member, an oil feeding conduit member mounted in a vertically disposed position at one side of the steam conduit, a spring-pressed valve normally closing the upper end of the oil feeding conduit, a chamber enclosing the valve and adapted to receive oil forced through the valve structure underpressure,

7 and an oil feeding passageway leading diagonally downward from the valve chamber to the chamber enclosing the throat of the Venturi tube. V v v i 2. In a device for introducing lubricating oil intoa region of fluctuating pressure, a vertical Venturi tube having a bore tapered in both directions from a central region of minimum diameter and an oil inlet bore extending diagonally downward into the vertical bore at its region of minimum diameter and a check valve preventing flow of oil in reverse directions. a

3. The combination with a steam engine and a main steam supply conduit of a lubricating system comprising an auxiliary relatively small pipe line leading from the steam supply to the steam engine, a Venturi tube introduced in said pipe line having a Vertical bore tapered gradually in both directions from a central region of minimum diameter and having a plurality of oil inlet bores extending diagonally downward into the vertical bore at its reglon of minimum dlameter.

4. In a device for introducing lubricating oil into a steam chamber, a source of steam under pressure, a steam chamber, a conduit from the source of steam pressure to the steam chamber, a Venturi tube forming a part of said conduit and through which all the steam carried by said conduit passes, an oil reservoir, a port connected to said oil reservoir and leading through the Wall of the restricted portion of the Venturi tube, a check valve to prevent back flow through the Venturi tube and a check valve to prevent back flow of oil through the oil port, substantially as described.

til!

ARTHUR M. GREENE, JR. 

